Loose front sight insert - question

gunsrfun1 · 03-26-2008, 07:38 PM

Hello - The front sight insert on my 1920 commercial is loose, and I am curious how to resolve it. When I say loose, I do not mean falling-out loose. Rather, I can push the insert left and right with my finger, but it will stay in position until I fire it, and then it does tend to drift one way or the other over time. For obvious reasons, I do not want to peen the insert or the base. I thought about buying a spare insert that I could peen, and I guess that is still an option if I can find one at a reasonable price. Another option is to clean the surfaces of the base and insert with Gunscrubber, and then apply a drop of blue Loctite. Seems like a simple and hopefully effective idea. Does this sound like a reasonable solution? If not, I am open to suggestions. thanks

Ron Smith · 03-26-2008, 09:02 PM

Jay,

The best way to tighten the dovetail, is to take out the sight.

Find a piece of steel bar stock about 5/8" diameter.

Clamp the barrel firmly in a padded vise.

Lay the bar stock across the top of the dovetail. Be sure that is parallel with the edges of the dovetail and squarely and firmly touching the edges.

Now tap it very lightly with a small hammer. Try the sight for fit.

If it's still loose? Repeat the procedure as needed until the sight resists and has to be drifted into the dovetail.

This method, if done correctly, will upset the dovetail edges without showing signs of peening.

Ron

policeluger · 03-26-2008, 10:26 PM

Use a pointed punch, create one or two small craters in the base of the sight dove tail, and re-insert front sight.....it will tighten it up and no unsightly damage to the sight base.....works everytime.

policeluger · 03-27-2008, 07:59 AM

very well put Rick, and a little loctite in this application will never hurt...soft solder of anykind, and I am doing a brass braze clean up now on a gun, are a mess when it comes time to reblue, should you ever want to...

John Sabato · 03-27-2008, 08:55 AM

I have used Howard (Policeluger)'s method (judicious stippling at the dovetail base surface with a prick punch, with much success over the years to tighten a loosened front sight blade in a dovetail.

I had not thought of Ron's method, but I am sure it would be helpful... as would the appropriate type of locktite...

My rule is never file a sight dovetail unless it is a brand new one that you are creating...

Steinar · 04-01-2008, 05:59 AM

Good suggestions above, probably more durable that the solution I ended up with;

I used a thin fishing line called 'fireline', laid it twice across the sight base.
This is a very strong and non-flexible fishing line, so for me it didn't tear apart when punching the sight in. Once installed, the line that sticks out can be burned off.

03-26-2008, 07:38 PM	#1
gunsrfun1 User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Loose front sight insert - question Hello - The front sight insert on my 1920 commercial is loose, and I am curious how to resolve it. When I say loose, I do not mean falling-out loose. Rather, I can push the insert left and right with my finger, but it will stay in position until I fire it, and then it does tend to drift one way or the other over time. For obvious reasons, I do not want to peen the insert or the base. I thought about buying a spare insert that I could peen, and I guess that is still an option if I can find one at a reasonable price. Another option is to clean the surfaces of the base and insert with Gunscrubber, and then apply a drop of blue Loctite. Seems like a simple and hopefully effective idea. Does this sound like a reasonable solution? If not, I am open to suggestions. thanks

03-26-2008, 09:02 PM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Jay, The best way to tighten the dovetail, is to take out the sight. Find a piece of steel bar stock about 5/8" diameter. Clamp the barrel firmly in a padded vise. Lay the bar stock across the top of the dovetail. Be sure that is parallel with the edges of the dovetail and squarely and firmly touching the edges. Now tap it very lightly with a small hammer. Try the sight for fit. If it's still loose? Repeat the procedure as needed until the sight resists and has to be drifted into the dovetail. This method, if done correctly, will upset the dovetail edges without showing signs of peening. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

03-27-2008, 08:55 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I have used Howard (Policeluger)'s method (judicious stippling at the dovetail base surface with a prick punch, with much success over the years to tighten a loosened front sight blade in a dovetail. I had not thought of Ron's method, but I am sure it would be helpful... as would the appropriate type of locktite... My rule is never file a sight dovetail unless it is a brand new one that you are creating... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

04-01-2008, 05:59 AM	#6
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Good suggestions above, probably more durable that the solution I ended up with; I used a thin fishing line called 'fireline', laid it twice across the sight base. This is a very strong and non-flexible fishing line, so for me it didn't tear apart when punching the sight in. Once installed, the line that sticks out can be burned off. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

03-26-2008, 10:26 PM	#3
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Use a pointed punch, create one or two small craters in the base of the sight dove tail, and re-insert front sight.....it will tighten it up and no unsightly damage to the sight base.....works everytime.

03-27-2008, 07:59 AM	#4
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	very well put Rick, and a little loctite in this application will never hurt...soft solder of anykind, and I am doing a brass braze clean up now on a gun, are a mess when it comes time to reblue, should you ever want to...